Hostage Taker
Hostage Taker Price Summary
As of Aug 9, 2026, the cheapest tracked printing of Hostage Taker is $0.22 (AFC #186), and the most expensive is $3.95 (PXLN #223s, Prerelease, Foil). The benchmark price (cheapest playable nonfoil) is $0.26, down 23.5% over 7 days, up 13.0% over 30 days, up 36.8% over 90 days. All-time tracked high: $0.34 (2026).
Hostage Taker Printings & Prices
Hostage Taker has 9 tracked printings across 8 sets, in nonfoil, foil and etched finishes, including inverted and prerelease treatments.
Sell Hostage Taker: Buylist Offers
Card Kingdom currently pays $1.50 cash for PXLN #223s (Foil); the retail-buylist spread on that printing is 70% (wide).
| Buyer | Printing | Finish | Cash offer | Retail | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoolStuffInc | 2X2 #505 | Etched | $2.00 | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | PXLN #223s | Foil | $1.50 | $4.99 | 70% |
| Card Kingdom | 2X2 #505 | Etched | $1.30 | $2.79 | 53% |
| Card Kingdom | XLN #223 | Foil | $0.60 | $1.99 | 70% |
| Card Kingdom | 2X2 #227 | Foil | $0.60 | $1.99 | 70% |
| Card Kingdom | MB2 #137 | Nonfoil | $0.12 | $0.79 | 85% |
| CoolStuffInc | MB2 #137 | Nonfoil | $0.10 | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | XLN #223 | Nonfoil | $0.09 | $0.69 | 87% |
| Card Kingdom | AFC #186 | Nonfoil | $0.09 | $0.59 | 85% |
| Card Kingdom | 2X2 #227 | Nonfoil | $0.09 | $0.59 | 85% |
Hostage Taker Rules Text & Legality
When this creature enters, exile another target creature or artifact until this creature leaves the battlefield. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.
Hostage Taker is legal in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy and Commander, and not legal in Standard and Pauper.
Hostage Taker Rulings
- Sep 29, 2017 Auras attached to the exiled permanent will be put into their owners' graveyards. Any Equipment will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled permanent will cease to exist.
- Sep 29, 2017 Hostage Taker has received errata to prevent it from targeting itself. The correct Oracle wording appears above.
- Sep 29, 2017 If Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, the target permanent won't be exiled.
- Sep 29, 2017 If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won't return to the battlefield. You can't cast it.
- Sep 29, 2017 If it's still in exile, the exiled card returns to the battlefield immediately after Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions.
Reprints & Reprint Risk
Hostage Taker has been reprinted 11 times.
| Set | Date | Rarity | Treatment | Day 1 | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MB2 #137 | 2024-08-02 | Rare | Standard | — | — | $1.84 |
| OTC #231 | 2024-04-19 | Rare | Standard | $0.23 | $0.08 | $0.13 |
| LCC #271 | 2023-11-17 | Rare | Standard | — | — | $0.11 |
| LTC #268 | 2023-06-23 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — |
| 2X2 #505 | 2022-07-08 | Rare | Inverted | — | — | — |
| 2X2 #227 | 2022-07-08 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — |
| 2X2 #227 | 2022-07-08 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — |
| AFC #186 | 2021-07-23 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — |
| XLN #223 | 2017-09-29 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — |
| XLN #223 | 2017-09-29 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — |
MB2 #137 
OTC #231 
LCC #271 
LTC #268 
2X2 #505 
AFC #186 
XLN #223 Showing the 10 most recent of 11 printings.
Hostage Taker in Commander
Hostage Taker is the #1,839 most-played card on EDHREC, down 26 places over the last 30 days.
Hostage Taker FAQ
How much is Hostage Taker worth?
Hostage Taker is worth about $0.26 for its cheapest playable printing as of Aug 9, 2026. Prices range from $0.22 to $3.95 across 9 tracked printings.
Is Hostage Taker legal in Commander?
Yes — Hostage Taker is legal in Commander. It is also legal in Pioneer, Modern and Legacy.
Has Hostage Taker been reprinted?
Yes — Hostage Taker has been reprinted 11 times, with 9 printings tracked on The Index.
Why is Hostage Taker cheap?
Hostage Taker trades at about $0.26 — 11 reprints keep supply plentiful.